By Francis Ogbuagu
Electricity consumers in Benin City and it’s environs have continued to groan over epileptic power supply by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).Many consumers complained that there have not been supply of electricity for the past 3 months and wondered how the new electricity tariff will take effect, when there is no supply.
In Idahor Street off,Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, Mrs Agnes Uwagboe, who operates a beer parlour, said she has not seen light in her area for the past two months and asked how the new tariff is to take effect when there no light at all.”They are talking about new electricity tariff, are we paying for darkness? Where is the light they said they want to increase?” For the past two months,I have not seen light here (Idahor Street), So I don’t know what they want to increase,if there is light,then we can talk about increment.”
David Ekhator,a cab driver,who lives in Nosa Ekhator Street off Upper Sakponba Road Benin said the most painful part of the power problem is that for the past 2 months, there is no light yet they keep piling up bils.
“My problem is that, while there is no light,yet,they use estimated billing for us, they are going to bring their bills, and expects up to pay. Now,the government is saying that they want to increase the tarrif.They have increased fuel, and now it’s electricity”
Also, Kester Ezeugo,who sells electronic at 3rd Junction,by Upper Sakponba Road said, he don’t have any problem,if power is Constant, saying that theyspend more on fuel than whatever they can be asked to pay.
Meanwhile,the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, (BEDC), Funke Osibodu, Friday, said that customers in the franchise states should not panic over the new Service-Based Tariff, (SBT), saying that they will now pay appropriate rates for services rendered based on its availability.
Osibodu, represented by the Executive Director, Commercial, Mr. Abu Ejoor said while briefing Journalists on the new Service-Based Tariff, (SBT) for Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, (NESI) in Benin.
“The Service-Based Tariff, (SBT) is a leap into a regime where customers of BEDC across the franchise states of Delta, Edo, Ekiti and Ondo will be migrated to a threshold where there will be continuous improvement in the quality of service delivery that the company offers.
The new SBT will allow BEDC customers to enjoy certainty in a minimum of hours of power availability and pay appropriate rates for services rendered based on this availability.
“At takeoff from 1st of September 2020, the new SBT essentially affects customers that enjoy electricity for at least average of 12 hours per day. For those enjoying less than 12 hours of power supply, they will continue to pay at old rates until end of the year”, she explained in detail.
The BEDC boss added that the new Service-Based Tariff was approved for all the Distribution Companies (Discos) including BEDC in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry, (NESI) and that it took its effect from September 1, 2020.
